Over the past hundred years individuals worldwide hold memorials for their dearly departed loved ones and they also conduct pet memorials for their deceased pets and this is done to show honor and respect. Around 3000 B.C the practice of cremation began. in the Near East, later across northern Europe, moving to the British Isles and what is currently Spain and Portugal at about the time of the Bronze Age — 2500 to 1000 B.C. From the time of the Roman Empire — 27 B.C. up to 395 A.D. cremation was extensively practiced, and it became custom for cremated remains to be placed in intricate embellished urns. By 400 A.D., Constantine’s Christianization of the kingdom lead to earth burials completely replacing cremation. For the next 1,500 years, this type of disposition has remained the standard all throughout Europe.
For example, an archaeological group found a historical pet cemetery with the remains of 1000 dogs dating back to the period of Persian rule in Palestine from 539 to 332 BC.
Over a hundred years ago, cremations and pet memorials started to take place in the United States. The oldest and extremely revered pet memorial and burial ground goes by the title of Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and Crematory. In 1896 when the war was closing, the Westchester County, New York cemetery was developed and now holds more than 2000 graves. Here, favorite pets are buried in pet caskets, and pet urns, with custom grave markers and pet memorials at graveside. Currently more than 70,000 pets are laid to rest there.
The Le Cimetiere des Chiens D’Asnieres-Sur-Seine in France has set up a giant sculpture of a Saint Bernard and a child. This dog called Barry saved 40 individuals in the Alps right before he lost his life while attempting to rescue the 41st person.
In the last few decades, there’s been a dramatic increase in cremation compared to ground burials, which has elevated the need to find a final resting place for a pet’s remains. Pet masters have different preferences some would prefer to scatter their pet’s ashes while others opt to keeping the ashes by placing it inside a cremation urn.
Today, a new worldwide trend has surfaced known as tribute paintings, whereby individuals are commissioning an artist to create a tribute of their loved ones – both people and pets – using the
cremated remains. These remains, and or a few strands of the hair are brushed into an abstract expression of a cherished one’s life. Abstract art is the kind of art that follows a narrow trail behind religious art except that it is not religious art and it concentrates more on color and form.
A lot of testimonials seem to confirm that these tribute paintings for pet memorials help speed up the healing process after the loss of a beloved pet.